With the weather acting schizophrenically, I've used the cold days to do a lot of reorganizing, rigging and prep for the upcoming tournament season. I'll only fish a handful of events but I want to at least make it worth the time and effort. Trying to figure out, by reading maps, old notes and revisiting way points has me trying to "guess" where the fish will be.

It actually reminds me of a book I enjoy reading every couple of years, Think Like a Fish: The Lure and Lore of America's Legendary Bass Fisherman by Tom Mann and Tom Carter. In it Mann talks about war, sports and fishing. This is at least two of the three if not all three, symbolically of course.

“In war, men are taught to think like their enemy. In sport, contestants should think like their opponents. Fishing is the only sport where the opponent, or prey, is usually invisible. If you can't think like him, you won't outsmart him. If you catch him without thinking, you're not skilled, you're simply lucky. Luck isn't as much fun, or as fulfilling, as strategy-born thinking.”

I’ll have my work cut out for me but it is all a part of it. I am trying to think like a fish.

If conditions are X, where would I be, what would I be looking for? Am I lethargic or am I feeding up? Am I looking for a bed or am I just storing up after the winter?

The voices of fish that have no voice or inner thought are filling my dreams both day and night. It is setting up to be a maddening couple of weeks. I have reorganized my tackle twice, respooled all of my reels, selected the six rods I’ll take, the baits they will fling and even what accessories I’ll be taking along.

Tournament fishing to me is like a fine scotch. Taken in small doses it is able to be enjoyed and my presence to others is, I would like to think, equally enjoyable. Largely consumed, no one wants to be near me or my warped verbal ramblings.

I will do my best to remain refined over the season. If you see me talking to my self and flailing wildly in the air however, best to just leave me be. It’ll go away sometime.

Outdoor Retailer is underway in Salt Lake City this week and
new gear abounds. While I’d love to have the new solar powered tent from Eddie
Bauer or the Vibram LED shoes, the price point is going to place that out of
the realm of possibility for, well…most of us.

Three useful new items are rolling out this week however,
(though some have had 30-60 days of market presence), that I felt were
definitely worth mentioning. The best part is, you can get all three for less
than $25! Skip the movie with the significant other, cuddle on the couch with a
Redbox or Netflix and BOOM!, $25 for a new gadget.

This emergency “knife” is safe to carry on your hip, lightweight
and has a blunt end with protected blades. Great for cutting fishing line,
rope, trot lines, and other tangled messes, this could be the new safety knife
that becomes a kayaking favorite. Right at $25, it is significantly cheaper
than other safety knives on the market and may be safer and more user friendly.
If I had the Trilobite a few years ago my hands would have a lot fewer scars.

Kayak camping demands planning but the weather can often
make it difficult. When everything is soaked, it’s good to have a back up plan.
The Firestarter is that plan. At $10, it has a small lightweight package but
includes all the things you will need in a damp (or dry) environment to get a
fire going and your gear to drying. Small and easy to pack, this should be a
consideration for all your overnight trips.

YakAttack GTSL Gear Tracs

This newest addition to the Gear Trac family from YakAttack
has changed rigging options once again for kayaks. This high performance polymer trac comes
in a variety of colors, can curve easier than its anodized aluminum brothers,
and has a lower price tag than any previous trac offering. From as low as $8 and available very soon,
you can get trac and show off your personality at the same time. Rigging just
got easier, more affordable and has a new personalized look.

Hobie Outback Rigging Thoughts

A new Caribbean Blue Hobie Outback is sitting in my garage.

I peeked in on it about twenty times yesterday. I'm beyond giddy about it and so today's post is more of asking questions and ramblings of rigging than anything else. No advice, no adventures. Just a guy and his yak.

I haven't named her yet but I have started the rigging process.

Last night I added Turbo Fins and a sailing rudder to it but I have yet to put a hole in it. I'll be adding some YakAttack GT175 GearTrac this week, an anchor trolley and roughing out where to mount some Supernova LED lights. I'll also be putting in a 1" Ram Ball post mount in the sail post up front. The Lowrance fish finder will get to come on board for the first time in several months which will be nice but that starts the great debate. How to mount the finder? I have a Mad Frog Liberator Arm and deck plate which I've been using but I am debating some of the alternative ways to mount the transducer and unit. I like to have the head unit where I can change settings quickly without too much effort. I also want versatility but I really like the looks of the rudder mounted transducer.

She is a blank slate right now. What else should i consider?

If you have some ideas, I'm all ears!

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